cnolan

WaferGen Biosystems Inc., a startup focusing on genomic analysis, has added Scott Davidson and Joseph Pesce to its board. Davidson currently serves as managing director at Great Point Partners, where he focuses on medical devices and diagnostics investing. Pesce is a managing director and operating partner of Great Point Partners.

U.S. venture capitalists opened their wallets a bit wider in the last quarter of 2011 than a year ago, investing $6.57 billion in the nation's startups, up 19% from the $5.52 billion invested a year earlier, Reuters reported, citing a report from the National Venture Capital Association and Pricewaterhouse Coopers. The venture-capital funds invested the funds in 844 companies, down from 861 companies a year ago, translating into an average deal size of $7.8 million compared to $6.4 million a year ago, Reuters wrote.

Neways Enterprises, Utah-based maker of dietary supplements and personal care products, has completed an out-of-court restructuring to reduce its debt, the company announced. As a result of the transaction, private equity firm Z Capital Partners and funds affiliated with S.A.C. Capital Advisors will own a majority of Neways. Golden Gate Capital will maintain an equity stake, the company said. Terms of the deal were not released.

Millennium Technology Value Partners announced 18 portfolio companies that received new or follow-on investment in the last 18 months. The companies include Chegg, Twitter, Good Technology, Tumblr, BeachMint, IronPlanet, ETF Securities, Tremor, Acronis, HootSuite and Yodle, among others.

The Carlyle Group has cut its stake in China Pacific Insurance, selling 18 million shares and takings its holding below 5%, Reuters reported Friday. Carlyle invested about $800 million in CPIC between 2005 and 2007 for a 17 percent stake, sources previously told Reuters.

New York-based private equity firm Cortec Group has acquired Cranial Technologies Inc. Terms of the deal were not released. Paul Hastings represented Cortec Group in the deal. Tempe, Arizona-based CranialTech is a developer, manufacturer and provider of medical devices and services for the treatment of positional plagiocephaly in infants.

Safran, a French aerospace company may bid for private equity-backed Italian aero-engine parts maker Avio, Reuters reported Friday, citing the Italian newspaper MF. Avio is backed by private equity firm Cinven and Finmeccanica.

(Reuters) - Swedish private equity firm EQT, which has close to 18 billion euros in raised capital, said it planned in future to manage its funds onshore in Europe, decreasing its use of tax havens, Reuters wrote Friday. EQT plans to consider Britain, the Netherlands, Luxembourg or even Sweden for its onshore locations.

TPG Capital and Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC will invest about 750 million yuan ($115 million) in convertible bonds in Hong Kong-listed China sportswear brand Li Ning Co. Ltd, Reuters wrote Friday. Li Ning also said in a separate statement that TPG and its affiliates will buy about 5 percent of the existing issued share capital for about HK$349.8 million ($45 million), Reuters wrote.

Rovio, the Finnish creator of the global smash-hit Angry Birds computer game will not join the stock market this year but still aims to eventually seek a listing, Reuters wrote Thursday. Rovio executives had said it would seek an initial public offering in New York or Hong Kong, Reuters wrote.